Distressed Watts property to become a national model for public housing renewal
Santa Ana, CA, June 5, 2017 –SVA Architects, Inc. is pleased to announce the groundbreaking of Jordan Downs Phase 1A in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Watts. One of the most significant projects in Los Angeles, which has captured community input and participation, the new Jordan Downs promises to spur economic development across the region and become a national model for the renewal of public housing.
In 2008, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA), along with residents and numerous stakeholders, initiated a visionary plan to transform the distressed public housing development, Jordan Downs, into a vibrant urban village of mixed-uses and mixed-incomes. Phase 1A, now underway, will consist of 115 rental apartments in 12 buildings on 3.15 acres, and is designed to achieve LEED Silver Certification. When all phases are complete, the $1 billion project will create hundreds of jobs, approximately 1,410 affordable and market-rate homes, numerous public amenities including a new community and recreation center, 160,000 square feet of retail space, nine (9) acres of green space, and new neighborhood programs and services to enrich the lives of current and future generations. The new Jordan Downs is being developed by BRIDGE Housing and The Michaels Organization.
Jordan Downs Phase 1A in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Watts.
Kimberly McKay, Executive Vice President for BRIDGE Housing, states, “Our experience with large-scale public housing revitalization demonstrates how we can enrich the fabric of communities, make wise use of land, and pair stable homes with the services people need to thrive and grow.”
Ernesto M. Vasquez, FAIA, NCARB; CEO of SVA Architects; states, “It is truly an honor to be part of such a significant—and long overdue—project for the City of LA. Where deterioration and devastation once reigned, a thriving and sustainable community will emerge. We are pleased to collaborate with design firm, Mithun | Solomon to deliver such a transformative project.”
Founded in 2003, SVA Architects has become one of the Country’s most innovative and respected design and planning organizations. The award-winning firm specializes in urban planning, architecture, and interior design of public, private, and mixed-use projects. Among the firm’s portfolio are civic, educational, residential, commercial and mixed-use developments. SVA Architects values institutional and public environments as the foundation of a community and the backdrop against which we live, learn, work, worship, and play. The company is headquartered in Santa Ana with offices in Oakland, San Diego, and Honolulu. For more information, visit www.sva-architects.com.
